Investigation/ Tips for Interviewing

1703.54

SUGGESTIONS FOR INTERVIEWING CERTAIN POPULATION

HOSTILE SUBJECTS ………………………………………….. Page 2

CEREBRAL PALSY …………………………………………… Page 3

MENTAL ILLNESS ……………………………………………. Page 3

MENTAL RETARDATION ……………………………………. Page 4

MODERATELY RETARDED ….………………………………. Page 4

MENTAL RETARDED/DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITY .… Page 5

SUGGESTION FOR INTERVIEWING HOSTILE SUBJECTS

oBE THOROUGHLY FAMILIAR WITH THE CASE

oHAVE COMPLETE KNOWLEDGE OF THE REASON FOR THE INTERVIEW.

oCONDUCT THE INTERVIEW IN AN AREA UNFAMILIAR TO THE SUBJECT.

(PREFERABLY IN THE OFFICE.)

oGET THE SUBJECT TO COMMUNICATE WITH YOU.

oGET THE SUBJECT’S VERSION OF THE STORY DOCUMENTED.

(REGARDLESS OF THE VALIDITY OF THE INFORMATION.)

oASK ALL QUESTIONS AND RECORD ALL ANSWERS.

oNOTE ALL INCONSISTENCIES WITH INFORMATION ALREADY OBTAINED.

oOBTAIN AND RECORD ALL PREVIOUSLY UNREPORTED INFORMATION.

oCONVINCE THE SUBJECT THAT THE TRUTH IS ALREADY KNOWN.

-NEVER TELL A LIE ABOUT THE SUBJECT’S RIGHTS.

-NEVER MAKE A THREAT THAT IS A LIE.

SUGGESTIONS FOR INTERVIEWING CEREBRAL PALSY POPULATION

oSPEAK DIRECTLY TO THE INDIVIDUAL, NOT A FRIEN OR COMPANION.

oTRY TO GIVE YOUR WHOLE ATTENTION TO THE SUBJECT.

oDO NOT HURRY IF THE SUBJECT HAS DIFFICULTY UNDERSTANDING.

oDO NOT COMPLETE THE SUBJECT’S SENTENCES.

oDO NOT BE AFRAID TO ASK THE SUBJECT TO REPEAT SOMETHING.

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SUGGESTIONS FOR INTERVIEWING MENTALLY ILL POPULATION

oEXAMINE YOUR OWN BIASES.

oEXHIBIT CARE AND CONCERN.

oEXPLORE AS MUCH ABOUT THE SUBJECT AS POSSIBLE PRIOR TO THE INTERVIEW.

oCHECK OUT THE ENVIRONMENT TO DETERMINE WHAT IS REAL AND WHAT IS IMAGINED.

oENCOURAGE HELP AS AN EXTENSION OF THEIR OWN RIGHTS.

oPAT ATTENTION TO THE UNSPOKEN WORDS

oBE MINDFUL OF PERSONALITY DISORDER; CONS, CONTINUOUS HUSTLES, NO CONSCIENCE, NARCISSISM, AND SELF-CENTERED REACTIONS

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SUGGESTION FOR INTERVIEWING MENTALLY RETARDED

oPAY EVEN CLOSER ATTENTION TO BODY LANGUAGE WHEN THE PERSON ISSEVERLY RETARDED AN/OR NON-VERBAL.

oWATCH FACIAL GESTURES AND POSTURE OF THE SUBJECT

oINTERVIEW THOSE SIGNIFICANT IN THE SUBJECT’S LIFE TO GET AN ACCURATE UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT OCCURRED.

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SUGGESTIONS FOR INTERVIEW MODERATELY RETARDED POPULATION

oPHRASE SENTENCES AND QUESTIONS AS SIMPLY AS POSSIBLE.

oDO NOT TALK DOWN, YET DON’T USE WORDS THAT MAY BE HARD

TO UNDERSTAND.

oDON’T ACT AS IF YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT IS SAID IF YOU DON’T.

oBE PREPARED FOR INACCURATE USE OF LANGUAGE.

oIF SPEECH IS HARD TO UNDERSTAND, ENCOURAGE GESTURES AND DEMONSTRATIONS SUCH AS DRAWING A PICTURE OF THE EVENT.

SUGGESTIONS FOR INTERVIEWING

MENTALLY RETARDED/DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED

oACCEPT THE PERSON.

oSHOW RESPECT FOR THEIR FEELINGS.

oMAINTAIN GOOD EYE CONTACT.

oTALK LOUDLY ENOUGH TO BE HEARD

oKEEP SPEECH AT AN EVEN PACE.

oAPOLOGIZE IF YOU ACCIDENTALLY INTERRUPT.

oLISTEN CAREFULLY.

oUSE EASILY UNDERSTANDABLE SENTENCES.

oSPEAK CLEARLY AND CONCISELY

oASSURE THE SUBJECT THAT THEY HAVE NOT DONE ANYTHING WRONG.

oASK OPEN-ENDED QUESTIONS.

oBUILD ON WHAT THE SUBJECT SAYS.

oASK FOR MORE INFORMATION IF YOU ARE NOT CERTAIN WHAT

IS MEANT.

oBE DIRECT AND SPECIFIC WITH QUESTIONS.

oMAKE SURE YOUR WORDS, TONE OF VOICE AND BODY LANGUAGE

ARE FRIENDLY AND ACCEPTING.

oATTENTION SPAN MAY BE LIMITED; DON’T ASK TWO QUESTIONS IN THE SAME SENTENCE.

oIF CLARIFICATION IS NEEDED, OR YOU DON’T UNDERSTAND, ASK THE SUBJECT TO REPEAT WHAT WAS SAID.

oDON’T ASSUME THAT YOU UNDERSTAND; SOMETIMES WHAT YOU THINK IS NOT WHAT IS MEANT.

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Effective: 08/93